Zelensky tells the West he wants war with Russia to end 'no later than next year' as he scrambles for backing from allies in whistle-stop tour of Europe

A recent report published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank and Open Source Centre estimated that Russian artillery attacks are responsible for some 70 per cent of Ukrainian casualties. The sheer numerical superiority of Russia's artillery batteries and ammunition reserves afford Putin's forces a significant advantage on the battlefield. Russian artillery divisions can be deployed in more locations and can sustain a much higher rate of fire than their Ukrainian counterparts, helping to scupper Ukrainian counterattacks while softening up defensive positions. "As of August 2024, the Russian theory of victory does not centre on major breakthroughs, but rather on the destruction of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) as a force capable of defending the breadth (of the frontline)," the RUSI report read.